Mountain Flying 101

[@billpotterbladepitchfilms2716]

THIS is the Trent Palmer I've been missing. The bikes are cool and all but I come here for the flying and this was such a breath of fresh air on the channel!! I love everything you do but this is the heart and soul of this channel! Bring on flying season!!

[@nishanriar8070]

Let him do what he wants on his Chanel.

[@benhelm6212]

@@nishanriar8070 he didn’t say that Trent can’t do that stuff. He just likes this stuff better

[@dh-flies]

Agreed....this was great advice and easy to follow direction.

[@KergylKraft]

This is great advice and I see where you're coming from , but I frankly prefer the flying over the talking. I prefer the times of flying through canyons, and landing on massive hills.

[@Kee_Didnt]

More of this Trent! The graphic overlays were awesome and educational. This is legit.

[@StangDGB]

As a flight paramedic, that deals with mountainous terrain regularly in a Bell 407, I love this video! on point!

[@TrentonPalmer]

Thanks Dusty!!

[@TheJasonmurphy2005]

As a flight nurse in the flat lands of Missouri, you can see a hill from 100 miles away

[@likebotting784]

that downwind draft can send you places

[@ferdberffle]

Trent, get you CFI dude! As a PP, you can't get paid to train, but as a CFI, you have the choice. Beside that, you're a natural teacher. Don't overthink it, just do it.

[@grantrussell8288]

"I'm not an instructor, this is just a casual conversation" Video named: "Mountain Flying 101". Very bold, I love it.

[@Matt_Vanepps]

Would be a LONG haul but would love to see the Freedom Fox land on the Freedom Factory or do a flyover during one of the events there.

[@regal105]

And then Trent do a 7 second pass in ruby.

[@saulekaravirs6585]

This would be awesome. The Freedom Factory even has a big field in front if it that could be a good landing area. I think the only wires are by the track and by the mane road, but that would need to be checked. Cleet would love seeing the Cub Killer Freedom Fox too.

[@pioboss9823]

I cannot tell you how much i love this idea. Lets get ol cleeter to do some bush flying

[@MrHatchbody]

Yes please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ChippyOutdoors]

Damn hellllllll ya That would be epic!!!! Trent seems a little more serious then cleatus though lol

[@Raypatrick66]

Trent u have a talent not many people have!!! Thats conveying what you see and experiance…to people that would never ever be able to know and or understand!! Im lucky in that i understsnd most what you saying but even when i dont ,you explain things magnificently!!! I just can’t say thank you enough for all the videos and uplifting the sceans the music etc. you have many faceted talents!! Please never stop im 53 seen and done alot and you amaze me constatly!! PLEASE NEVER STOP THE VIDEOS… ! Lol thanks Trent wish i coukd shake your hand! You Inspire people!! Rare talent Sincerely Ray S

[@TrentonPalmer]

Thanks Ray!!! I really appreciate that. And glad you are enjoying my content!

[@kevinmeyer3884]

I second what Ray said! I am not a pilot but have always loved watching plane fly! Thanks for taking me along!

[@Matt_Vanepps]

This is great! My grandfather owned the local airways that was the only service up lake. I grew up flying in small Cessna and De Havilland Beaver float plains up and down the lake (50 miles) in the valley. Mountain videos bring me back.

[@Alex-tw7wh]

Mountain flying is definitely one of the biggest challenges in aviation, and not only for general aviation airplanes. At the beginning of my airline pilot career I was based in Innsbruck, Austria, which is one of the most challenging airports to fly into right in the heart of the alps. I was flying on the Dash 8 then, a fairly powerful twin engine 50 seat turboprop with a combined 5000 horsepower performance. Even with that kind of power we would sometimes have to change course during climbout because some downdrafts were too strong to outclimb them. One daunting example for the hidden dangers of mountain flying is Steve Fossett who died in an accident caused by downdrafts, and there are many more victims every season flying para- and hanggliders into unexpected rotors, which could have been predicted with a little training and knowledge of the basics of mountain flying and aerodynamics. Trent, I've noticed that you're making very large and rapid aft elevator inputs during flare. Does the kitfox need such inputs, and if so, did you ever run out of elevator during flare? I've noticed that you guys have a tendency to land these things really slow, almost in a stalled condition each time. Is that the way the manufacturer recommends it?

[@mgd09050]

That tune "I need to go somewhere" hit realllly hard. Great video Trent!!

[@dennispitz7488]

Okay, I’m feeling hooked! I’m 71and am not a pilot. But I am thinking that building a Kitfox might be about the most fun I can have at my age. I just finished measuring my workshop door to see if I can get the fuselage in and out. Probably have to change out the slider for a French door. Trent, you are one inspiring young man!

[@YouCanSeeATC]

No runway - no problem 😂😂😂 14:20 I was like:"What are you doing? There is a terrain ahead! " But later 😂 it was just a landing!

[@jimaperkins]

I am an experienced pilot in the Rocky Mountain region, and I approve of this message.

[@TrentonPalmer]

Thanks Jim!

[@vectors2final36]

When I hear "laminar", I always think of thought of Destin, of the Smarter Everyday channel.

[@TrentonPalmer]

He did a great video on Laminar Flow!

[@joeljohansson4501]

Same lol

[@colincenge]

And with hand drawn science animations.... this channel is moving on up!

[@doctorpetersonc1]

I agree!!!! Trent needs to take Destin up in the air flying!!!!!!!!!!

[@Darm0100]

Definitely would love to see a collab between cleetus and Trent. Freedom fox + freedom factory just screeeams content

[@luke_atthat]

Always a treat to watch your video! When I receive a notification of your new post, I make sure I will watch it in a proper time to enjoy it without distraction! Thank you very much!

[@capturachile]

Trent, I really enjoy your videos besides the great adventures that you are showing us... especially during this long quarantine days ...keep us flying with you man. Regards from Chile

[@garybensman1358]

Let's get into the mountains and Trent has wise words of advice!

[@theclephane2914]

Density Altitude: Use your Aircrafts performance charts to be safe! Great video Trent! The wind flow over the mountain is great! Great explanation!

[@fredmartin3117]

Took ground school & lessons in Flagstaff, Az (7000 ft elev) so density altitude was drilled into my mind from the very beginning, Bought Sparkys book and practically memorized every page. It was used so much that the pages were coming out. I credit that book quite a bit to my getting to be 82 years old. Kudos to you for a very good presentation of a critical subject.

[@trellkennett]

Good video! I agree with your views. I have been flying firebombing, Idaho back country cargo and cropdusting most of my life.

[@joewilliams4142]

Really simple and helpful. I got a Mt Flying sign off at Lake Tahoe in the early 90’s. On a windy day. Wow…..learned a lot. I love the song at the end…Need to go somewhere, but did not see it in the description.

[@jesuslaboy1559]

I love watching you fly. I am a student pilot in the city.

[@thedolt9215]

Trent, I love the view from the camera behind your right shoulder. Makes me feel like I'm flying with you. Outstanding video!

[@joewilliams5072]

Agreed, one of the best. Simple explanations I’ve seen. I took a mountain flight instruction flight in S.Lake Tahoe in the 90’s. It was a great, but scary, experience . Now......fix your headset rack, it is driving me crazy because it is mounted crooked. ( I have the same one in my Ercoupe).

[@RaceMentally]

Plane just crashed south of Tahoe Wednesday. Was a 65hp tail dragger. I flew in Thursday around 2pm with a DA of 8800.

[@SkateIncorporated]

Such a coincidence you made a video about mountain flying today! I literally just got back from taking a mountain flying ground course, and I was talking about your videos to my instructor! I love your content, cheers for all the inspiration! Hopefully I'll cross paths with you one day 🤘🏼

[@alemoncada]

Density altitude very well explained, in easy words and phrasing, in books it's a nightmare to understand, full of numbers, symbols, graphs. Well done Trent

[@TrentonPalmer]

I don’t know why it’s always described in such a confusing way!

[@michaelblomfield1504]

Another super cool video Trent. Another good tip is "Shadows", beware of the mountains or hills hiding in the forground late afternoon or early evening on a sunny day. Awesome content.....looking forward as usual to the next video. Regards from New Zealand.

[@darrylwbraun]

Thank you for putting in a pitch for that book. I bought it and was struck by how much I wasn't taught in flight training. I sent Sparky an email to express my gratitude for his having written the book and he sent me a complimentary soft copy on CD. That book should be mandated reading for EVERY student pilot, it's THAT good!

[@elyseperry753]

Great video Trent... i'm so glad flying Weather is back.

[@garymiller7108]

Your videos are extraordinary! Great production values, solid instruction, nice attitude. Congrats.

[@cheif10thumbs]

You should be a CFI Trent. Your thorough knowledge and experience makes for a great presentation. Thank you again!

[@FallLineJP]

Trent posted! Drop everything! 🤣👏👏

[@gpbarth]

Experience is still the best teacher, and you have tons of experience in just this area of flying. If I ever came out your way to fly, you'd be in the right seat, even if I had to pay you. In reality, I can't fly anymore, but with the new MSFS2020 and a Carbon Cub, I can still fly out of your airport there and check out the skies you fly! Don't ever stop making these videos!

[@sodajones2576]

Trent, after saving for a year, I’m starting flight school, next month. Your videos got me hooked. Keep them coming!

[@oldgreenplane1428]

"Always have an out..." is the best advice for any type of flying - ESPECIALLY in the mountains though. Nice work TP!

[@jamesordwayultralightpilot]

I guess that's why I can recognize dangerous situations and feel it in my gut. I ride a bike and fly sim now and I had a moment yesterday flying towards a mountain and I found myself in a round nook that almost led to disaster as I was never going to climb out. So I thought fast and banked a hard U turn and heard the stall alarm halfway through the turn as my airspeed dropped, but I just applied full power and full flaps and yanked it around the rest of the way and my heart rate slowed down as I was level. But those times let me know my instinct will always be there for me. Sometimes I do things not even knowing why because my subconscious knows what needs to be done.

[@fmh357]

Good advice. I have a fair amount of mountain and weather flying flying in a Super Cub. Someone once said "weather will get Ya". One thing I noticed in watching you fly was how responsive your roll rate per stick movement was compared to a stock Piper Super Cub. I always enjoyed off airport flying. God Bless.

[@MichaelLloyd]

High DA can affect the pilot too (fatigue and low O2 at the extreme case). My home airport (KFMN) is 5,507'. DA right now (almost 9pm MDST) is 7,217 @ 63 deg F.

[@georgebabu]

Awesome video and overview to Mountain Flying (and book recommendation)! Happy flying!

[@stevehildreth1934]

High density altitude grounded a friend in his Tri Pacer for the day. He landed, on a hot day at a high altitude air field for fuel. Didn't have enough runway to get back in the air. Spent the night there and took off the next morning!

[@mikercflyer7383]

That is a good lesson I learned from slope flying rc gliders it was not fun retrieving your glider from the back side of the hill. But the back side is where dynamic soaring thrives.

[@aquaticsoundwave6361]

Keep up the great content bro!! We passed through Reno the other day and was looking for your plane!! Tried talking the wife into moving here but she gave me the angry eyes..lol.. Can't wait to come back here and fly one day!! Thanks for the virtual tours!!

[@robfriedl3688]

Thanks a lot, Man! Super helpful for a first lesson in mountain flying.

[@bavarianadventures]

I still really love your new Intro! Especially the screaming of Haley... ;-)

[@danielruff4632]

Great content, Trent! Thanks for sharing!

[@alistersladen1212]

Wow a great flying video.....finally. Good work

[@hoffmanaeronautics6192]

Three things: Last week we were in Steamboat Springs, CO and watched someone on a hang glider (remember the 80s?) riding ridge currents and thermals. Mountain rotors are no joke. There’s a vid out here somewhere about a B52 prototype that got its rudder redesigned by one. Thanks for the great content! Hope the property is working out for you.

[@rumbear1]

Awesome video! Great tips for dodging around the local hills!

[@ganthrithor]

The reference point for density altitude is ISA conditions-- 9000' DA just means the air density wherever you're at is equivalent to what you'd find at 9000' MSL in ISA conditions.

[@MojaveHigh]

This was amazing! Please, more educational and fun videos like this!

[@glennreed9918]

Love the video Trent! The info provided holds true to ALL pilots in this area. (LTA, Rotor and fixed wing)

[@Mike7478F]

10/4 Trent. Some clever bloke needs to invent a pole that has a frequency and solar driven, five clicks and a wind sock pops up!! ✈

[@KMW63]

I wish you made more videos like this! Great job!!

[@musikmaan]

If you want to know exactly how wind moves through mountains and valleys... look at water flowing through a creek or river... the way the water flows over and around rocks, and around bends in the river is exactly how air moves through similar obstacles.

[@slam854]

Excellent presentation of fact & theory, fluid dynamics I think it is called. Always a thrill to get airborne with you, Hailey and friends. My new frontier is learning how to road trip in an electric vehicle. Got to do my part to keep our air clean. Got a great deal on Chevrolet Bolt and it handle like a skateboard. Very fun car.

[@danielforde-pogson]

NIce to see you again making more regular videos. NIce bit of casual ppl training as well!

[@BalancedLugger]

This is my favourite of your videos so far.

[@Die4dutch2]

This is the closest i get to flying nowadays. Thanks trent, another awesome vid

[@Diablodivers]

Covered lots of great points.

[@illestKG]

Great video Trent, This got me pumped to do some more mountain flying this year! My grandfather worked for Skystar/Kitfox before he passed away a long while ago. I wish he was around to see your videos and so that I could take him up now that I have my license!

[@Bill3558]

Great video. I fly in the Blue Ridge. The visibility out of your plane is fantastic. I fly a FDCT light sport. May have to put some fat tires on and explore the possibilities.

[@edwinkania5286]

Entertainment and information at the same time. Bravo!

[@renatoigmed]

I love how you turn your plane into a onboard drone :D

[@AutoCarShow918]

Would love to live the life you live one day man. Love it

[@SanfordDentalArts]

As a Truckee glider pilot with 100s of hours there, good explanation of mountain air. Take care and fly safe.

[@dizdizzy8937]

Flight video! Yes! Thank you

[@Raypatrick66]

P.s. I love the way you try to include your wife your a blessed man! Even though i feel you have worked hard for it… Stay safe my friend if i may say so..very informative!

[@wrongwayfeldman5393]

That was good ty Trent, got to try some o that in the MSFS

[@Stringman1950]

Haven’t watched in a while. Didn’t get into the whole house/wife thing. Found this again and enjoy the flying. Cheers.

[@flytelaw1]

This is great information for beginners or people who only fly flat land!

[@tomaiken8026]

Nice visuals and explanation. Good job Trent!

[@ThreeWheelTherapy]

The other safety factor od wave flight is that you will encounter gliders flying the wave for altitude. They get up into the flight levels sometimes. They should be talking to atc but battery life and wave propagation has a lot to do with comms in the glider world.

[@jimcripps3612]

Pretty damned good advice the same as we got from a local Swiss pilot when visiting the Swiss Alp a few years ago. Regards, Jim in NI UK

[@GodzHammer]

The older I get the more lonely this looks without children involved. They are the biggest blessing in the world and want to do all of your passions as much as you want to. I wish I had my children much younger.

[@jamesordwayultralightpilot]

You're only as old as you feel. Find youth in them. Let them help you remember what growing up was like. You can always make memories.

[@evilbrat5376]

Great personal insight and info given here. Be safe flying out there.

[@oregonarcher]

I love being able to fly vicariously with you! Keep up the great experiences, content and education for us non-plots!

[@nathan737wells]

You need to get your instructors certificate. You are a great teacher.

[@davidrobins4025]

Very interesting information about mountain flying. Thanks, Trent.

[@BmHabib017]

One thing you should also mention is when doing those low passes or surveillance passes of terrain, you should be doing them around 40-50% power. Stay in low power and stay unconfigured so in the event of an obstacle or you descended too much, you have enough power to climb out at Vx and go around

[@KillerSpud]

People that are curious about how those up drafts work should check out Bruno Vassle's videos in his sail plane.

[@jameswolkins7616]

very beautiful mountains. loved it.

[@portnuefflyer]

It was 28 MPH, gusting to 36 at the town's weather station, (and not thermal action) and dead calm at my mountain strip 14 miles away and 1200' higher yesterday, that makes you think!? Flying hang gliders and ultralights in the mountains is the best tutorial I know of for light plane mountain ops.

[@Joegoesflying]

Dude, loving the content and the self debrief, I’m an ex military fast jet instructor and I think your ability to fly and talk sense would place you well as an instructor should you ever chose to do so! On the valley (canyon by your lingo) flying the stick to the side wall works well but also highlight the ‘canopy to hazard’ theory when it gets tighter and or higher performance aircraft. I sadly have a few dead mates when their energy meant they went into the unseen side of the valley under the nose. Love this style of video and really wish the UK had even a fraction of the GA fun you guys get! The graphics worked really well, nice work all round. Take care and fly safe, Joe

[@silasmarner7586]

Haley's reverbed scream is a really super killer part of the intro. Well done, well done!

[@thedolt9215]

I was irritated when Trent said he was going to redo his intro, I really liked it. But his new one is even better and I love Haley scream!

[@UncategorizedContent]

An interesting coincidence you mention that here, because the intro clip you're talking about happened to be taken while flying down a canyon to get a good view of the fall colors.

[@jimhuskyflying]

I really enjoyed this video. Thank you.

[@jpascaln]

Smooth video Trent. Fun and informative watch.

[@ManandaMooney]

Great content Trent. You hit on 2 of the 3 biggies in my book - Density Altitude and Winds Aloft. The only other one I would include is remain VFR in the mountains. Thanks for spreading that mountain flying knowledge. I’ve tried to do the same with my channel.

[@mandonutcase]

Hey Trent! Love the posts you make! As a SAR aircrew member ive been slowly trying to get my license and hoping to build my own airplane one day! Your videos keep me inspired and i would love to do some flying with you one of these days! Fly safe out there! Thanks for all the hard work and inspirational videos!

[@loganfeszczyszyn6814]

Looking like a great video! Keep up the great work man!

[@cmass87]

Definitely a great one. I still love the Idaho Back Country Shenanigans

[@snviper]

Flew an rc plane off the cliffs of Brighton UK once in huge updraft. Now I know exactly why it did what it did haha. Thanks for that interesting video!!

[@kelsocraig]

Flying my jumpers in the Carson valley - this is me all day long, I had to learn about the lee wave from the glider pilots because I go clear over to emerald bay, you have to be careful but when I cross Kingsbury at 11k and above the rotor it’s like an elevator ride - max gross and I’m climbing almost straight up at anywhere from 1-4K / min! Even with the DA at 9/9500! It’s like surfing in a plane 😎 thanks for the video! See you at the Taildragger again soon?!?

[@tinopack4152]

great video Trent! thank you, could you make a video like this about weather, like, which clouds to watch out for and etc

[@jeffhiner]

That windward updraft is no joke. I used to regularly see 1500-2000 fpm ascents playing in the mountains in northern NM in a 172, on a day with 15 knot winds aloft. (Normally it would climb at 600 fpm on a calm day at that DA.) The opposite end can dunk you in a valley really quick if you're not careful.

[@DreamForged3D]

I have one of those flitetest freedom fox rc airplanes. Looks great and flies very weird. Perfect for me. It's a lot of fun. Maybe some day I'll post a video. Weather is getting better so I need to get off my lazy ass and do that.

[@christopherosborn5047]

Great job Trent , graphics are great.if you are going to do some mountain flying especially here in Colorado always heads up they are not forgiving.

[@jamesmccalvy9160]

Great video! I got a chance to go to one of Sparky's seminars in Idaho years ago. It was full of good info and stories.

[@sacooper802]

great advice and easy to understand Trent, really appreciate your efforts.

[@aviatortrevor]

I dont think the flow is neccessarily laminar below 20 knots wind speed at the terrain's altitude. It's just that

[@stuartkcalvin]

Nice piece Trent, thanks.